Global affairs in the mid-21st century are largely managed by a massive computer network. Plans are underway to incorporate Spartacus, an artificial intelligence system, into the network through a software upgrade. The idea raises the concern of allowing non-human decision-makers to wield too much control. To evaluate Spartacus' capabilities, a miniature world in the form of a new space-station habitat is constructed for deployment and testing. In the event of danger, the system can be deactivated, and the station destroyed. Yet, what if Spartacus improbably turns on Earth and emerges as a threat?
